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Online now: 5 members: 59gearhead, Dick6, Ric68, TABLE SETTER 11, dawg888; 101 anonymousDiscussion: ASA Stand on illegal bats
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| Oct. 11, 2006 MikeC Men's 60 38 posts | ASA Stand on illegal bats ASA Court Judgment 10/9/2006 Oklahoma City, OK—The Amateur Softball Association (“ASA”) is pleased to report that the U.S. District Court for Western Oklahoma has awarded ASA $100,000 in damages and attorney’s fees totaling approximately $12,000 against the first two defendants in the Association’s ongoing attempts to rid the game of softball of illegal equipment including painting and other techniques used to alter bats. In addition to the monetary damages awarded above, the Court entered an injunction against the defendants and ordered the defendants to do the following: • To provide the names and addresses of all customers as well as suppliers of goods and services who enabled the defendants to perform the acts giving rise to the lawsuit; and • To provide the names and addresses of any person or entity that supplied the defendants with any decals bearing ASA or Rawlings’s trademarks. “While we are pleased with the Court’s decision and feel that our legal position has been firmly established ASA’s work is far from over”, commented ASA’s Executive Director, Ron Radigonda. “We have already identified our next round of defendants and plan to aggressively pursue them,” added Radigonda. The ASA has established a method for individuals who might be concerned with their past activities. Such individuals can e-mail the ASA and begin settlement discussions that may keep them from being sued in the future provided they agree to cooperate with the ASA. If a bat doctor would like to turn themselves in, we encourage them to send an e-mail to info@softball.org with the subject line of Bat Settlement Agreement. If individuals continue to alter bats in any way that contain the ASA’s trademarks, the association will pursue all legal remedies available. About ASA’s Equipment Testing Program ASA first adopted a bat performance standard in 2000, relying on a nationwide consensus bat testing method approved by the American Society of Testing and Materials (“ASTM”). This initial standard was based primarily on the adult male slow pitch softball player. ASA began investigating improvements to this standard with field testing in the summer of 2001, primarily to confirm its application to the youth slow pitch and fast pitch game. As scientific lab testing and research continued, it was discovered that the performance values of certain bats tended to increase the more the bat was used. In light of this discovery ASA began to enforce its 2000 performance standard against these bats, and subsequently “recertified” several of these bat models after modifications by the manufacturers. In October 2002, ASA conducted a field test focused solely on bat performance. This field test used high speed cameras to capture the swings and “bat-ball collisions” of players from two different divisions. The results of this study, along with additional testing lab research, led to a number of science-based recommendations for improvements to the ASTM test method. The new test method was approved for balloting in May 2003 by the ASTM subcommittee in charge of developing this test method and became effective January 1, 2004. Since that time, “bat doctors” have altered approved bats to enhance their performance and have relabeled unapproved bats to make them appear to be certified by ASA. For more information on equipment matters see the Certified Equipment section of the ASA website, www.asasoftball.com About the ASA The Amateur Softball Association of America, a volunteer driven, not-for-profit organization based in Oklahoma City, OK, is the national governing body of softball in the United States. Founded in 1933, the ASA regulates competition in every state through a network of 86 local associations to insure fairness and equal opportunity to the millions of players who annually play the sport. Additional information about the ASA and its Bat Testing and Certification Program can be found by visiting www.asasoftball.com. Maybe this will answer all the questions on what is going to be done about the illegal bats. If you CHEAT then you should be BANNED/KICKED OUT period. ASA is taking it a step further and they are going after the people that later the bats and the people they know are cheating. Senior Softball should take note and do the same thing. |
| Oct. 11, 2006 Gary Heifner 248 posts | Thanks for the post MikeC. I can't stand nor will I play ASA, HOWEVER, I would like to say "way to go". It's about time some association got tough. Now simply add in a "LIFE TIME" ban on cheaters using altered bats and I think this problem will go away quickly. |
| Oct. 11, 2006 STONEMAN Men's 50 535 posts | MIKE C:: But, I still spit on ASA. If, u r a good man, why, would u work 4 ASA? CAN or WILL U ANSWER THE FOLLOWING??? 1) ANSWER FROM WORTH: Customer Service" FROM ....:::::::Stephen.... I can not (answer yer questions)because as you will find out they will not give out any information about the tests. I can tell you that the balls used in the test are not tested and I can tell you the labs are in New York. I can also tell you they never field test anything it is all done by machines and scientific formulas. We are told the cor and compression of the softballs are 44/375 but I do know last year when the Ultra was banned the balls used were out of spec and I would bet so are the ones being used this time around since no one ever checks the softballs. I will also tell you one last thing. I know Frank Taylor of the ASA has sent a letter out to all ASA directors and he is purposing that all bats be banned except Wood bats. He is a very old man living in the past. He is also the one who created the bans last year. Problem is ASA wants out of slow pitch findings of the test and how they come about them. The only reason I know so much is because I tested bats for Easton for a long time and was privy to the associations test.(THIS COMES FROM AN EASTON REP.) 2) ANSWER FROM ASA on TEST: Kelly McKeown" Stephen, I've given you the names of the labs, but they will not release the test results of the products that they have tested. Good luck, Kelly McKeown Director of Marketing ASA/USA Softball 2801 NE 50th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Phone: 405-425-3422 Fax: 405-424-3855 Check us out on the web at www.asasoftball.com; www.usasoftball.com 3) WELL,MIKE C.? I hope u have a nice day. Will u tell us why, u put yer Message here? U r a 55 division player? LAST QUESTION:: DO U WORK 4 ASA? MIKE, ASA cares about WOMEN'S FAST PITCH SOFTBALL & MONEY. If, ASA, really cared about SENIOR SOFTBALL, they would use a 50 cor ball w/ a 375 comp. Good Luck Mike. I hope that u were try' to be helpful. ASA, I SPIT on that group of ANGLE SIDE SIDES. The STONEMAN................... UPSET |
| Oct. 12, 2006 MikeC Men's 60 38 posts | I do not work for ASA or any company or thing related to softball. The reason I posted the ASA stand is I feel at least they have stood up and said they are going to TRY and stop the "Bat Doctor" and the players that are cheating. If you would read my post I also mentioned anyone caught cheating should be banned from SOFTBALL. Why do you have to cheat when you are already able to use a Ultra II. I can not speak for all states but here in Iowa ASA is the game most people play. Our complex hosted the ASA "B & C" State Tournament this year and our state commissioner brought a machine and everyone's bat was tested. I do not always agree with ASA, USSSA, NSA. ISA or Senior Softball but with ASA taking a stand possibly the rest of the organizations will follow suit and stop people from using illegal equipment. |
| Oct. 12, 2006 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | I for one appreciate the info that MikeC gave us. There is no need to to ridicule someone for forwarding some info just because you don't like the ASA. I really don't care what Assoc I play under. Whatever Assoc you play under everyone else is playing under the same rules so what difference does it make. |
